分类: - CALVARY CHAPEL OF JONESBORO

Perspective for those Fearful and Freaked out by the Upcoming Election

10/22/2020

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God grant you joy in knowing that as a believer in Jesus Christ you dwell in a glorious Lordship, no matter what earthly political system you live under.

Hooray for the Lordship of Jesus Christ! Today as I remembered the fact that Jesus is Lord (not we make Him Lord – that is unbiblical) I was honestly filled with joy! If you are like me you’ve been living in a world that has been dominated lately with talk of who will be our leader and president after November 3rd. I can tell you with absolute certainty that I have no idea who is going to win that contest. But regardless of who does win that election, it will not alter for one millisecond Who is Lord.

Christians have lived under every kind of political system under the sun. The early church lived under a Roman system that eventually was ruled by a dictatorship (or Caesar – it honestly was the same thing). There were some real doozies who ruled the Roman Empire. There was Claudius and Nero, Domitian and Trajan, Marcus Aurelius and Septimus Severus, Decius and Valerian, and then Diocletian and finally Constantine I, who supposedly converted to Christianity. Some of these leaders persecuted Christians with great passion, while others considered them more of a nuisance. The early church did not ever know any kind of “rights-based” democracy or republic. But, then again, they already knew the One Who is Lord. Jesus Christ ruled their lives in the midst of life in the Roman empire.

How did these brothers and sisters fare with such a horrible political situation? Oh, they did well as they saw the Gospel of Jesus Christ represented all over the empire. They lived with the command of God to honor their leaders (yep, even Nero and Caligula), pray for them, and submit to the governing authorities unless doing so meant denying Christ. Then they chose to honor and obey God rather than man. They did not try to start a revolution – unless you mean the one that overtook those who came to Christ. In them a revolution took place in their heart as their heart of stone was removed and they received a heart of flesh. They experienced a revolution where their hearts and loyalties were turned to Christ Jesus, their new Lord. They loved Him, lived for Him, and spread the good news about Him all over the empire. When faced with the choice of bowing their knee and saying Caesar is Lord, the chose imprisonment and death rather than deny their only Lord, Jesus Christ. The majority did not endure that fate. They simply lived out their lives under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Ultimately He was the one they looked to and obeyed as they lived out the days appointed for them. They endured the kings and kingdoms of men, knowing that the day would come when the kingdoms of this world would become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

This revolution has had its adherents in every nation, tribe, and tongue. Each has known the replacement of self on the throne of their lives by the Lord Jesus Christ taking His rightful place. The result of that wonderful change has been salvation from sin and the specter of the wrath of God at the end of the age. The result has also been a radical change in how one views and lives in this present evil age. Elections continue in the earthly realm – with rulers taking their place for a brief breath of time. Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall in the current age – and within those kingdoms, nations, and empires the true church continues to obey her Lord as she awaits the day He returns.

No matter who wins this election, on November 4th every true believer in Jesus Christ will not know any change in who they ultimately obey. They system under which they live and labor for Christ may change, but their Lord will remain the same. Throughout today this fact has comforted my heart in ways that cannot be understood except by fellow Christians. I do not live in fear of what the future ultimately holds. I do not live with a sense of dread any more if who I vote for does not win the election. Because all I’m doing is voting for one who will be an earthly leader who will live, die, and face the same judgment all other men and women will face. My Lord will not be altered – nor can He be.

On November 4th I will awaken much like I’ve awakened to other days in this life God has given me. I will turn to the same God who has created all things – and thank Him for the day He has made – and make the conscious choice to rejoice in it. I will turn to His Word and fellowship with Him through it, relying on His Holy Spirit to teach and lead me through whatever day comes. I will hopefully submit to Him in all that I do and say that day so as to honor and glorify Him by living in a manner worth of the Gospel I’ve received – and worthy of the Lord Who has saved me. The world will most likely be in some sort of upheaval. The world is like that because it continues in ungodliness and unrighteousness – and disobedience to the One Who IS Lord. My goal on that day will be to love God with all my heart, love my neighbor as myself, share the Gospel with those who do not know Christ, and make disciples of Jesus Christ.

The reason we can know such peace . . . is because we know the Prince of Peace. The reason we can walk in stability regardless of how unstable everything is around us . . . is because we know the Lord, who gives us a kingdom that cannot be shaken. This will not change no matter who is elected president of the United States.

0 Comments

Rabshakeh, Sennacherib and Getting Fitted for Nose Rings and Bridles - 2 Kings 19

3/14/2018

0 Comments

Today in our reading for “The Disciple’s Journey” we read from 2 Kings 19 about the invasion of Judah by Rabshakeh for Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. When he came to Jerusalem, Rabshakeh decided to mock and deride not only Judah, but also Hezekiah and his strong faith in Jehovah. That was a very serious mistake.

Hezekiah showed wisdom in not responding to the Assyrian leader when he spoke blasphemously against God. He instead went with the letter into the presence of God and prayed with great sorrow and grief about how God was dishonored by this arrogant official of Assyria. He spoke of God’s sovereignty and power – and how that was denigrated by the words which Rabshakeh spoke. Then God spoke on the matter. The words which God said were truly terrifying when you consider what happened shortly after God spoke them through His prophet Isaiah.

'But I know your sitting down,
And your going out and your coming in,
And your raging against Me.
'Because of your raging against Me,
And because your arrogance has come up to My ears,
Therefore I will put My hook in your nose,
And My bridle in your lips,
And I will turn you back by the way which you came.
2 Kings 19:27-28

Those are sobering words for God to speak. In them God makes it clear that He is both omniscient and omnipotent. He is omniscient for He knows the sitting, the coming, the going, and the raging of the king of Assryia. Nothing has escaped God’s notice. He has seen the dishonor and disrespect of this ungodly king and his general. Before the night is over – 185,000 of his men – actually according to Chronicles – the entire leadership of the army (for those killed were all the officers of the army of Assyria) was killed. They awoke to see their entire officer corps become their officer corpses. They did the only thing they could do – turn and go home just as God’s prophet declared. And awaiting this arrogant king was a judgment of his own. He too was killed due to a plot against him within his own house – again – just as God said.

God’s description of how He will deal with this arrogant general and king are very clear. God is about to put a hook in the nose of these arrogant men. The kind of hook here is a piece of metal that was driven through the nose and then attached to a chain by which the prisoner was led around. Since we live in a day when a nose ring is often seen as a piece of jewelry - it might be wise to think of this ring in terms of what they put into the nose of a cow to lead it about when it is particularly unruly. God also promised a bridle in the lips. This was a piece of wood or steel that was usually put in the mouth of horses and attached to reins by which the master could turn the head and direction of the animal quickly. To resist the bridle was very painful. So this proud king and general who would do whatever they wanted – even to God’s people – were about to be led about with a hook through the nose and a bridle in their proud mouths. One would have to admit this was a very humbling way to be led about. Yet it is a warning to all who would dare think they will run their lives however they want – and God has no control over them. His lack of immediate action is mercy – and the arrogant would be wise to see such kindness by God as a call to repentance and not as a vote for them to continue in their rebellion.

Far too often the rulers of this world think they can rebel against God and do anything they want. Yet it is here – and also in Psalm 2 – and in Psalm 75 that we read of the “real facts.” God is King and God is Judge. He is the One Who knows all – and who has the power in His omnipotence to act in keeping with His righteousness and holiness. For those of us in power – not only over entire nations, but also when we are foolish enough to think we have power over our own lives – this is something to remember – and honestly – to tremble about as we consider our own arrogant statements of what “we will do with our own lives.”

There is One God – One Creator – One Owner – and One Judge over all. Jehovah is that One, and it would be wise for us to remember that whenever we wrongly think we are sovereign and can do whatever we want.

0 Comments

Why Voting is SO Hard for Christians This Election Cycle

10/8/2016

0 Comments

Why is it so difficult for a Christian to decide whom to vote for in this upcoming election? It seems that the more I talk with fellow believers about the presidential election that looms before us in the first week of November the more I hear of people who just don't know what to do. Here are a few things I hope will comfort your heart on this matter if you are one of these people.

First of all politics is not exactly the most godly arena in our culture today. We are watching a race between two people who are on the lowest end of the moral scale in our society. Mrs. Clinton has obviously broken laws in her email scandal. She has also been less than forthright about what happened in Benghazi and her role (or lack thereof). But when we look on the other side we see Donald Trump, a serial adulterer and a man who has gained much of his fortune as a result of the gambling industry. We also see someone who is a braggart and whose Twitter account and speeches are filled with far too much insulting of the other candidates involved - first in the primary and now in the general election. When we are faced with this kind of choice between candidates at the bottom of the moral barrel, it is difficult to say you are FOR either of them.

Second, we are once again choosing the lesser of two evils. I've actually heard it described this political season as a choice between the evil we know and the possible evil we hope won't materialize in the end. This is not the kind of choice we are used to as believers. Jesus told us to, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness . . . “ The focus in our lives is on seeking what is right, good, holy, and godly. There is not an area in our relationship with God in which we are encouraged to choose the lesser evil. We are consistently taught to strive for the right and the best. Therefore such choices as the ones we've had to make over the last couple of decades are difficult for us - if not downright odious.

There is a third reason voting is becoming more difficult for the Christian. Both parties have been far from cordial or gracious to the Christian conservative candidates who represent the kind of moral views we would like to see advanced in our Republic. To be honest - the Democrats don't even try in this area. But the way that conservative Christians and their views are being treated in the Republican primaries makes us wonder if we are even a part of that party any longer. Watching these things unfold - and being told that this is just the way that politics works - in once again something many Christians don't have a stomach for every four years. Especially when we are told after a candidate is chosen, who has had to change their views to stand for abortion from public statements they've made in the past, that we now have to come together and support them (even though we are very wary of them - because of how they've treated us just 6-10 months ago).

The fourth and final reason I'll put in this article has to do with the direction of our nation. My personal feeling is that the choices we have this fall are between watching our Republic and its Constitution being quickly dismantled by one candidate - or - seeing the same thing happen with the other - just more slowly. Neither candidate even wants to address sexual morality - or gender issues for that matter. This leaves me with the horrific choice between a fast or a slow decline and destruction in our nation. One can grasp with this (as well as the other three reasons before it) why we struggle to know whom to vote for this fall.

BUT - and please hear me in this - we live in a rare time in history where we can influence who will lead our nation. It may not be ideal. It may not involve having the perfect candidate - or maybe honestly - not even a decent one. The fact remains we need to look at biblical issues (as Christians) and decide where we can vote to advance godliness and the ability to function as Christians with as little interference as possible (see 1 Timothy 2:2-4). Our goal is to be able to, “ . . . lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." This passage refers to us praying for our leaders - but I honestly believe it can also b taken to mean, in our culture, to pray as to WHO are leaders should be as well. I know that it is not an easy or joyful task, saints. But I believe it is one we should not abandon.

One last thing I need to say in an article like this. The choice of our national leaders often reflects the nation itself. One of the reasons why we are faced with such choices is that the church has not been the evangelical force it should be in leading people to Christ - and then seeing those believers become effective disciples. The ungodliness of our leadership choices only reflects the ungodliness of our nation - and it is with a broken and sad heart I have to say - our churches as well. Let's vote saints. Let's take the time to examine that vote in light of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. But - let's pray! If we just vote - and don't get very serious about prayer - we've made a horrific mistake. The need of our nation is revival in God's church and spiritual awakening among the lost of our nation. Without that our nation will continue to slide toward the abyss of ungodliness that we are moving toward currently. As badly as our nation needs good leaders - it is even more imperative that our nation has good churches filled with godly men and women who are laboring in the gospel to see many in it saved. May God bless us with godly leaders - but in light of our current spiritual malaise - it may be even more important that God bless our nation and His church with godly, broken, praying people.

0 Comments

Thoughts on the Current Homosexual Marriage Supreme Court Case

3/28/2013

1 Comment

These were originally shared on Facebook - and there were requests to re-publish them on the church website.

Post #1 - Thought a lot since yesterday and the drama surrounding marriage. There is a storm coming (actually, already is here). There is going to be a battle between who will have "civil rights" when this is done. That is because the Bible has always held homosexual activity to be sin - and will not change regardless of how people voted on Prop 8 in California vote or what the Supreme Court decides. Therefore if homosexuality is considered a civil right, then the Biblical view of homosexuality will be deemed illegal - in free speech rights - in the hiring of church personnel - and eventually in what is taught legally in churches. Those who think this is extreme need to remember that when abortion was first argued in the early 1970's wise people said it would one day be available up to the moment of birth and for things like sex selection - and they were considered extreme.

After a comment from a friend in my hometown about how my children would react if they were homosexuals - and that they probably would not come to me - but suffer shame and misery silently - this post was made.

Post #2 - Just to let you know, although it was not homosexuality, I've had times with my children where they were walking in some pretty serious sin (from a biblical standpoint). Rather than wait for them to come to me - my sweet wife and I lovingly, yet firmly and boldly approached them. We did so making sure or several things . . . First, that they knew we had sinned in the past (my past involved actually hating Christians and Christianity - and a great deal of sexual immorality). Second, we assured them that although we were crushed and disappointed with their current choices - we would NEVER stop loving them. We assured them that there was nothing they would ever do that would make us reject them as persons - or as our children. Our problem was with choices they were making outside of God's will. Third - we took the time to sit down with them and share the Scriptures - specifically what they were doing that was outside of God's will. We did so unapologetically and with boldness (our confidence arising from God's Word - not from any pseudo-religious standing we thought we might have as parents or me as a pastor). Afterward, we assured them of two things - we would continue to side with God's Word on the moral issue - and second that we loved them very much.

Post #3 - My original post was about the political ramifications of the current debate. I have known several people who chose a homosexual lifestyle - have loved them - shared with them - and continue to affirm my love for them personally. God does not approve of their homosexuality - even as He did not approve of my fornication before I came to Christ (and He wouldn't approve of it now either!)

There are consequences for a nation when they choose to codify a sinful choice as legal. BUT - as a pastor and disciple of Jesus Christ - my responsibility is to love the person who is sinning, tell them the truth, and let them know that as a fellow sinner - I found grace in the gospel of Jesus Christ. God gave it to me when I responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit (Who used Scripture to show me my sin) in repentance from my heterosexual immorality (as well as breaking His Law multitudes of times in ways that blew my mind). They can receive the same grace from God as well. The one thing they will have to do, though, is see their choice (homosexuality is a choice - not a DNA driven lifestyle) as sin and be willing to respond in repentance as they turn from it, and faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to pay for their sin and be right with God.

Post #4 - Still thinking about the homosexual marriage debate . . . As Biblical Christians we have an interesting number of roles to live out in regard to these days.

First and foremost we have our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That we walk out loving and knowing Him - and do so with humility - always grasping that He first loved us and drew us to Himself due to His immeasurable mercy and grace.

Second, we have a dual responsibility to our world which means we will walk a fine line in regard to how the world works. The first of these dual responsibilities is to proclaim the gospel of God's grace in Jesus Christ! That means that we cannot allow the political or social discourse to become so toxic that we are rejected because of our political beliefs alone. The first offense in our lives needs to be the offense of the cross and the gospel. If people are offended with us - it is because we love them enough to tell them of their condition - their true condition of falling short of the glory of God. Here is where we have to be careful that our political discourse does not make it seem like certain sins are "more sinful" that others. Sin is sin - and it all separates us from God - and requires of us repentance and faith in Jesus Christ to be forgiven and to receive Christ's righteousness as a gift so we can stand before God. In regard to sin - I am no different than the homosexual - for we both have sinned against God and we both need pure, unadulterated grace that only comes in the gospel. This ALWAYS has to be our first message to the world.

BUT, we also have a second role that comes into focus in times like these - and that is a prophetic one. Especially in a democratic republic like ours - we play a part in our governing process. Therefore when our nation begins to turn from its godly heritage (which is has been going on for probably 60-70 years now - I am not one to say that this is the big issue - we've made choices for many years now - racism and inequality for blacks from the end of the Civil War until the Civil Rights movement of the early 1960's, the free love movement of the 1960's which popularized heterosexual immorality i.e. sex outside of monogamous, heterosexual marriage, abortion in the 1970's, the love of money in the 80's and 90's, and now homosexuality from the 80's to the present) - again, when our nation turns from its godly heritage and wants to codify as law what God calls sin, it is our responsibility to prophetically speak God's Word to our society - not that we predict the future or write new Scripture (which is unscriptural) - but we speak the morality that is in the Bible - boldly and unapologetically to our society. We lovingly, yet strongly state where we are going - and where it will lead. We do so hopefully knowing that it is most likely the case that we will be rejected - mocked - and called any number of names. Yet we do this for God's glory - and for love of the people in the world - and never for any kind of vindictiveness. We remember where WE came from - and that we needed grace and truth to come to Christ too.

Finally - we do this for God's glory - knowing that Jesus made it clear that His Kingdom is not of this world. There is a strong possiblity that we will be misrepresented, cursed, spoken evil of - and maybe even arrested and put to death eventually for our stand with God's Word - and with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If I remember rightly - our Founder and Savior was cursed, mocked, arrested and eventually crucified for speaking the truth (wonder what week that happened in history? - oh, yeah, this week!)

Just one last admonition for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Hold fast to the Word of God - to the testimony of Jesus Christ - to the gospel of God's salvation - and when you do have to speak prophetically to the culture - SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE! Tough to do - I know - but when we do have to speak prophetically to our culture and our government - we do not want to do so in such a way that will disqualify us from sharing the more important message of the gospel later! (Yeah - just looked at the length of this - and I am a preacher - HA! - and a long-winded one at that!) Love all of you - and especially those I have the honor of ministering to weekly at Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro!

1 Comment

Articles

Perspective for those Fearful and Freaked out by the Upcoming Election

Rabshakeh, Sennacherib and Getting Fitted for Nose Rings and Bridles - 2 Kings 19

Why Voting is SO Hard for Christians This Election Cycle

Thoughts on the Current Homosexual Marriage Supreme Court Case

Biblical Articles

Categories

​Articles

Perspective for those Fearful and Freaked out by the Upcoming Election

Rabshakeh, Sennacherib and Getting Fitted for Nose Rings and Bridles - 2 Kings 19

Why Voting is SO Hard for Christians This Election Cycle

Thoughts on the Current Homosexual Marriage Supreme Court Case

Biblical Articles

Categories

Articles